mercy seat

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “mercy seat,” “cover of the ark” or similar in English is translated by the interconfessional Chichewa translation (publ. 1999) as or “the cover of that box which was the place for forgiving sins upon” (source: Wendland 1998, p. 110) and in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) with Sühnedeckel or “atonement cover.”

covenant (tablets)

The Greek and Hebrew that is typically translated as “covenant” or “testimony” in English and refers to the stone tablets that Moses brought down from Mount Sinai are translated in Kupsabiny as “two stones (that are flat-and-thin) on which the law is written,” in Hiligaynon as “the wide stone on which is-written the Law.” (Source: Kupsabiny and Hiligaynon Back-Translations), and in the interconfessional Chichewa translation (publ. 1999) as miyala iŵiri ija yolembedwapo mau a chipangano or “those two stones on which are written the words of the agreement” (Source: Wendland 1998, p. 110).

In the English Translation for Translators it is translated as stone slabs and in the New English Bible as Tokens (source: Elizabeth Lewis).

See also 10 commandments on stone tablets (image) and ark of the covenant.

complete verse (Exodus 40:20)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 40:20:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then Moses got those thin stones (tablets) and put them into the Covenant Box. After that, he fixed the poles for carrying into the rings of the Box and closed it with a cover/lid.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then he brought the stone tablets and placing inside the ark he inserted the carrying poles in the ark and placed the Mercy Seat over the ark.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then he put-inside the Box the wide stone that written the commands of God, and he poke/put-through to the seemingly-rings of-the Box the poles which is-used-for-carrying, and cover-over it.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “And when it was done, then Moses took the two stones of the law and then placed them into the box. And he inserted the carrying poles into the ring-handles. And when it was done, then he put the box’s top [on it]. On that box’s top, blood wipes away people’s bad deeds, and so God is at peace again concerning them.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “And Moses take stone be flat two which God write word of covenant on it, put it inside of sacred box, put through its carry-wood at its side, cover it head with place-of-mercy.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “Then he/I took the two stone slabs on which the commandments were written and put them in the sacred chest. He/I put the carrying poles in the rings on the chest and put the lid on top of the chest.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 40:20 - 40:21

And he took the testimony means that “he took the two stone tablets” (Good News Translation). (See the comment at verse 3 above.) And put it into the ark means that he placed “them” inside “the Covenant Box” (Good News Translation). The Hebrew literally says “and he took and he gave the testimony unto the ark.” Two separate actions are not intended by this Hebrew expression, so one may simply say “he placed the stone tablets inside the ark.” Moffatt has “He placed the law inside the ark.” An American Translation has “Taking the decrees, he put them inside the ark.” Contemporary English Version states “The stones with the Ten Commandments written on them were stored in the sacred chest.”

And put the poles on the ark, literally “and he placed the poles upon the ark,” means that he inserted them through the rings that were on the sides of the ark. And set the mercy seat above on the ark, literally “and he gave [or, put] the kapporeth upon the ark from above,” simply means that he “put the lid on it” (Good News Translation). (But see the comment at 25.17.)

And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, literally “and he caused the ark to enter unto the mishkan,” means that “he put the Box in the Tent” (Good News Translation). And set up is literally “and he placed.” The veil of the screen is literal but confusing, for it uses the two terms that distinguish the veil of the Holy of Holies from the screen of the Holy Place. (See 26.33 and 36.) It is better to say “the curtain for screening” (New Revised Standard Version) or “the shielding curtain” (New International Version). And screened the ark of the testimony, literally “and he isolated [or, covered over] the ark of the testimony,” uses the same verb as verse 3 above. The noun for screen comes from this same verb.

As the LORD had commanded Moses is the second use of the formula first used in 39.1. (See the comment there and at verse 19 above.) As explained at verse 19, it is better to say “as Yahweh had commanded him.” Because of the repetition in this verse, it may be more natural simply to say “Then he put the ark inside the tent, hung up the veil, and screened it off, just as Yahweh had commanded him” or “The chest was brought into the tent and set behind the curtain in the most holy place. These things were done exactly as the LORD had commanded Moses” (Contemporary English Version).

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .